Even something where the government pays a doctor’s way through school and the government gives them a clinic/practice to operate. They would be paid a general salary and would have to see x amount of patients and have to spend at least x amount of time with each other their patients.

It feels like such a rip off when I see my general doctor. 10 minutes and I can’t even tell them everything that’s wrong so I have to call and make yet another appointment.
I know they’re swamped with paperwork and have other patients to see. I sympathize, I really do.

If only the private sector could step in and try to pay off some student loans’ of doctors willing to be physicians for their employees or whatever.

Since when has this ever forced people inclined to be scofflaws into compliant behavior? People are “required” to have a valid drivers license and insurance to drive their cars, but unless you get stopped and arrested, what is really keeping you from driving without those things? If you believe you will be treated anyway if you go to the ED, insured or not (thanks, EMTALA), do you really think being required to purchase insurance is going to make you behave one bit differently? I doubt it. If this law is going to have any teeth, it is going to have to repeal EMTALA completely. Because then, why would you need EMTALA? Everyone will have insurance; they will be required to.

Do you see Republicans fighting this? No, they’re just trying to nibble around the edges. Their constituency, corporate America, wants free of its healthcare obligations.

“Tort reform must be at the center of any meaningful reform.”

It’s this kind of foolishness that has led you astray. Tort reform is a miniscule issue compared to the way physicians have allowed the government and insurers get between them and their patients financially. According to CMS, malpractice premiums account for an average of 5% of a physician’s overhead, and 2% of the total cost of healthcare. And it’s not like “reform” will totally eliminate those costs. Same with defensive medicine, where despite 30 years worth of “reform”, health care is not appreciably cheaper in those states that have it.

The AMA is doing what is best for the AMA. They see which way the winds are blowing, and like all organizations are going to preserve their positions. They fear being left behind by taking a strong position toward a free market solution. Instead, they’re nibbling at the edges of the same system and calling it “meaningful”, and then mentioning that they’re after those sneaky lawyers just to keep your blood boiling.

The fact is that as long as you rely on the government to pay your salaries, you will never be in control of your own destinies. And as more and more of the cost of healthcare gets paid by the government, your bargaining position only weakens. It will not get stronger as long as that is your primary payor.

Oh well, maybe you guys can join the federal employees’ union.

We are Americans! Come on!

Like Chicagotrauma, I feel no sorrow for those who decided to not buy health insurance when they could have afforded it, but now find themselves burdened by medical bills. Again, they need to take responsibility for their actions. I do feel sorry for those who thought they had insurance to cover any major illness or condition that might occur, only to find they were misled by the insurance company.

It comes down to this plain and simple fact: Health care is not a right. Look at the Constitution. The only way it can become a right is to enslave physicians and forcing them to provide care to whomever the government tells them to. This will also require people being forced to attend medical school against their will as well.

Tort reform must be at the center of any meaningful reform.
Tax credits would help legal individuals and families purchase policies, as well as removing barriers to purchasing out of state policies.
Mandatory insurance is not reasonable. Some 18 million of the 47 million number bandied about CAN afford insurance, but they CHOOSE not to. For these people, insurers could craft low price “emergency” policies and such. Otherwise, when they are put into collection/bankruptcy, these people deserve it for not taking the proper precautions. Many of my patients have had the means to purchase some of these policies but CHOSE not too. I cared for the MRSA infection that ate off half of one persons thigh, but regarding her financial situation, I had little compassion as she CHOSE to go rock climbing, instead of buying a plan.
Personal responsibility has left the room. Nanny state is here. The single payers shills around here (can’t quite figure out if you are one of them) are gonna get screwed by our government.
No doubt we need more doctors. The best way to get more PCP would be to pay more money, this is obvious. Additionally, many med students I have spoken with fear medicine because of the governments role in regulating it, where it is heading (single payer-rationed health care) and malpractice.

Make medicine a profession in which you don’t have to watch your back (tort reform)
A noble profession where the doctor makes the choices and not some advisory board from the government culture of death. (Eliminate the possibility of single payer)
You WILL get more PCPs.

Barbara Starfield, MD, has written some excellent pieces on the importance of primary care. Your additions are much appreciated. Her citing of evidence showing primary care outcomes might add even more power to your arguments:
http://bostonreview.net/BR30.6/starfield.html

Keep up the good fight.

Instead of pandering to all of the lowest common denominators, he could start chatting up doctors & nurses in primary care – doctors who, over the last 10-15 years (about the time the businessmen really took over medicine), have been marginalized, devalued, and largely ignored by all of the people he’s working with now (lawyers, politicians, special-interest groups, and pitiful “advocacy” organizations like the AMA) to “reform” care – which really translates into buying votes.

Listening to the President of the United States pander and fear-monger this week, I wanted to channel me some disgruntled liberal Hollywood celebrities, thow up my hands and move to Canada.

Of course, if Obama has his way, I can stay here a few more years and pretty much be there.

Why do we have Insurance claims at the primary care level? If approximately 95% of claims are approved at a 30% cost to process please explain economics. Seems like these claim costs do not benefit physicians or patients or for that matter insurance companies.

What am I missing?